President János Áder has said that Hungarians are proud of what they achieved 30 years ago.
“After thirty years, we are rightly proud of our achievements in 1989,” President Áder said in his address at the traditional oath taking ceremony of military officers on Hungary’s August 20th national holiday.
The President said that since 1989, many dreams such as democracy, a multi-party system, freedom of speech and accession to NATO and the European Union, have come true, while others are yet to be fulfilled.
With the fall of communism in 1989, the hope returned that Hungary would become a country where “we shape our own laws and expel foreign, barbaric ideas,” he said.
According to MTI, the President said that of the officers taking the oath today, many were born after the regime change and so they are “younger than the regained Hungarian freedom”.
Referring to Hungary’s founder King Stephen I, to whom the August 20th holiday is dedicated, President Áder said that the Hungarian coat of arms features a crown “reminding us that our history started with a brave king”. The officers today vow to protect their homeland even, if necessary, by laying down their lives for it, he said.
President Áder said that in 1989 and the thirty years since, the aim was to create the environment for a “better era” when, instead of sacrificing their lives, people have to live and work for freedom.
“We are grateful to our first king, his successors and all Hungarians who created freedom and security in this land,” President Áder said.
Photo credit: Hír TV